It’s fascinating to think that with 7.6 billion people in the world there is only one of me. I am unique and so are you.

We spend so much of our life conforming and trying to be part of a crowd, part of the gang at school, part if the it crowd that I think we forget to celebrate our uniqueness.

I often talk about authenticity, especially in terms of personal branding. And I have been known to quote my favourite childhood author Dr Seuss – ‘Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you’.

It has taken me a very long time (the best part of half a century) to realise that I don’t need to conform and try to fit into a mould that has been created by the media, my peers or anyone else. I don’t need to dress according to fashion and try to fit my curvy shape into a style designed for another form of unique that is slimmer than I am.

I dress to be me – I am unique

If I want to wear sparkles and leopard print I will do just that. It doesn’t matter if I am staying at home doing the cleaning either. How we express ourselves through our attire is part of our uniqueness. In this busy world of mass production, social media, lots of people and lots of pressure, we need to carve out a place that is simply for us to be totally authentic and true to ourselves.

A unique gift

Today I received a gift. I love it so much because it is mine and mine alone. Joe Duff, a friend and fellow artist from Athenry has started making the most unusual jewellery ever. You simply write out your name (or get a significant other to write it for you). He will then hand cut it in sterling silver and polish it to perfection. Each piece is different as each person has a unique handwriting.

I did a bit of googling there and apparently our handwriting is as unique as our fingerprints. Even identical twins have different handwriting. As Joe bases his pieces on this seriously individual trait, there is only one of these pieces and it is hanging around my neck!

Visit Joe’s facebook page to see some of the process in action. It is really special to think that something is being carefully handcrafted for a specific person. In chatting to Joe I found out that there is a huge demand for these pieces. ‘People order names written by loved ones that have passed away as a way of creating a treasured memory and keeping that person close’, he said.

I bought one for my niece for Christmas, and she loved it.

Of course with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there is no excuse for not thinking up a great gift. Simply write down your loved one’s name and there you go!

Time to clear the clutter and make way for the special

This gift got me thinking about the huge volume of stuff we have in our lives, and how little of it is significant and unique. January is traditionally a time when we clean, we clear clutter and feel determined to make a difference.

I am no different. Over the last couple of years I have done a digital detox, embraced the Kon Mari method, and have felt the wonderful freeing feeling.

I subscribe to the idea that anything new that comes into the house has to be followed by at least one old or broken thing going out of the door. The gift of this beautiful necklace has inspired me to do a jewellery clear out. I will however keep those unique pieces that are filled with memories.